Clamping device for slicing machines



Patented Nov. 20, 1928.

UNITED STATE-s V EnefENEIt Fox, on soUTIIroRT, ENGLAND, AssIeNoaTo n. s. sLICING MACHINE CCM;`

PANY, 0E LA PCRTE, INDIANA, A CORPORATION or INDIANA.

CLAMI'ING nEviCE FoItsLrCINe' MACHINES.

Application iledMay 6, 192'?,` Serial No.:189,297.

This yinvention relatesto devices known as clamps or presses for slicing machines and by means of which the meat or other substance to be sliced can be clamped-in position on the'feed table of the machine. Such clamps are usuallycharacterized by one or more rows of projecting teeth, spikes or the like adapted to gripl the substance to be sliced.

The object of this invention is to'prevent the user of a slicing machine accidentally scratching his hands by the aforesaid teeth or spikeswhen placingthe substance to be sliced on the tableof the machine, `and also to prevent more serious accidents should the clamp accidentally slip down on the users hand (or hands) whilst he is positioning the substanceon the table.l

In order toguard against such accidents, in accordance with the presentinvention, I provide the clamp with means for protecting the hands of the user from the teeth or other gripping parts of the clamp'. j The` means preferably takes the form or' a movable guard or the like whichv is adapted to shield the teeth or spikes when the clamp is inoperative and to uncover or expose them when the clamp is operative. n

The means may be such that, whenl the clamp is pressed upon the'substance to be sliced, the pressure exerted willr be sufficient to cause the teeth or spikes toibe exposed `so that they mayv grip or penetrate' the substance, and when the clamp is raised and the pressure removed the teeth or spikes will again be shielded by an automatic movement of the guard. K y

The aforesaid meanswillbe hereinafter referred toas a guard. 5

' The guard may consist of one or more members adapted to enclosethe sharp or pointed gripping parts of the clamp, and may Abe of substantially U-shape in cross-section, the gripping parts being accommodated between the sides of the U. The guard may be formed with a slot, or slots, or equivalent, through which the gripping parts of the clamp can project beyond the guard, when required, as a result or relative movement between the guard and said parts. Preferably, the guardl is guided for movement relatively to the gripping parts oi the clamp and is provided wit means for limiting the movement of the c guard towards its protecting vor shielding position. i

The invention is illustrated by way of eX- ample in the which; n. A v Y i Fig. 1 is an elevation of a clamp of well known type equipped with a guard according to this invention' I accompanying drawing, in

' Fig;l 2 is a corresponding 'inverted plan;

and

Fig.

Fig. 3`is a ysection on the! line of bar of a clamp, the ends 'B of which are'bifurcatedfor reception :of the'uprights (not shown) of theclamp'ingdevice ofa vslicing machine. One of the ends B is fitted with a handle C shown lpartly broken away). lSecured to the Vunder .side of the bar-A is an elongated 'plate D, the side edges-of which are downturnedand are toothed throughout their length7 the teeth E thus formed con,- stituting the substance gripping parts of the As' shown, the vrclampis equipped with la guard 10 of substantially U-shape in crosssection,'the sides'lO of the'V guard 10 enclosing the downturned, toothed edges of the plate D. 7 v

`The guard 10 is litted with two upright pins l1 passing through apertures in the bar A and plate' 1D into the hollow bodyof the bar `A (see Fig). The apertures in the plate Dlserve as guides 'for the pins 11 which l are vtermed with vcollars 12. vsprings l13 being interposed between the collars '.12 and" the upper inner surface -of the bar A.- The springs 13 continuously urge the collars12, and'consequently, the guard 10v therewith, `downwardf` ly, the guard being in its lowermost vposition when the collars Vl-bear upon the plate D (as shown in Figs. 2 and 1 f The guard 10 is provided lwith slots ,'14 arranged in the path of the teeth E, there being one slot for each tooth.

1n operation, when the clamp is lowered and pressed on to the substance which is to be clamped in position for slicing, the guard 10 first engages the substance andis displaced upwardly thereby against' the action of the springs 13. The teeth E'pass through the relative slots 14 and enter intoengagement with the substance9 'which is thus securely tact with the under side of the clamp, orV

should the clamp accidentally slip down on top ot' his hand, while he is positioning the substance to be sliced, the guard will protect him from injury by the teeth o the clamp.

It will be obvious that, owing to the nu- `1nerous forms of clamps which are in present use on slicing machines, the invent-ion is subject to many modifications which will be within the scope of the present, invention.

I claim: v A

1. A clamp for slicing machines having means for gripping material to be sliced, a guard for said gripping means, springs for holding said guard in position to shield said gripping mea-ns for permitting said guard to move into a position to expose said gripping means, guides for directing the movement of said gua-rd, and stops for limiting the movement of said guard towards its shielding position. Y

2. A clampior slicing machines comprising a hollow body having gripping means at one side thereof, a guard enclosing said gripping means but movable to a position adjacent said clamp in which said gripping means are exposed, a guide for said guard extending into said hollow body, a spring `within said hollow body for urging said guard into its shielding position, and a stop within said hollow body for limiting the movement of said guide toward its shielding position.

3. A clamp for slicing machines comprising a bar having teeth thereon, a` channelshaped guard embracing one side of said bar and enclosing said teeth, said guard having openings therethrough to'perniity said teeth t0 project therefrom when said guard is moved toward said bar, guides secured to said guard and extending into said bar, springs for resiliently urging said guard outwardly away Jfrom said bar, and stops on said guides for'limiting the outward movement of said glnard. Y

4. Avvork holder for slicing machines comprising a work support, a clamp disposed above and adjustable toward said `work sup'- port, a work engaging portion carried by said clamp, and a guard for shielding said work engaging portion held in guarding relation therewith when said clamp is in inoperative position, said guard being movable to expose said work engaging portion when said clamp is in operative clamping position.

5. A work holder for slicing machines comprising a work support, a .clamp disposed above and adjustable toward said work support, a work engaging portion carried by said clamp, and a guard for shielding Vsaid work engaging portion held in guarding relation therewith when said clamp is in inoperative position, said guard being movable under pressure to expose said work engaging portion when said clamp is in operative clamping position.

6. A work holder for slicing machines comprising a work support, a clamp disposed above and adjustable toward and away 4irom said work support, a penetrating work engaging portion carried by said clamp, and a guard for shielding said work penetrating portion held in guarding relation therewithV when said clamp is in inoperative position,

said guard being movable under pressure to expose said penetrating work engaging p ortion when said clamp is in operative clamping position. j j A 7 A work holder for slicing machine comprising a work support, a clamp adjustable toward and from said work support, a work engaging portion carried by said clamp, a guard for shielding said work engaging portion, and resilient means normally holding Said guard in shielding position, said means being yieldable under pressure to expose said work engaging portion. j

. 8. A work holder for slicing 'machines comprising a work support, a clamp adjustable toward and from said work support, `teeth carried by said clamp, a guard for shielding said teeth, said guard having openings therein through which said teeth may project, and springs normally acting to hold said guard in spaced relation with said clamp to enclose said teeth but permitting compression of said guard toward said clamp to cause said teeth to project through said openings.

Intestimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification on this 14th day of April A. D. 1927.

EUGENE R. FOX. [1.. s] 

